A Functional Model of Cytochrome c Oxidase: Thermodynamic Implications

James P. Collman, Lei Fu, Paul C. Herrmann, Zhong Wang, Miroslav Rapta, Martin Bröring, Reinhold Schwenninger, Bernard Boitrel

Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 1998 · 68 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

The environment of the CuI ion in the distal ligand group decides the fate of the reduction of O2 by the two analogues 1 and 2 of the heme a3 CuB center in cytochrome c oxidase. The fourfold coordination by N in 1 favors the CuII oxidation state and leads to a 4 e−–4 H+ reduction and the formation of H2O under physiological conditions, while with 2 a 2 e−–2 H+ reduction occurs to form the cytotoxic H2O2.